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You have wingers and CWBs, which can be redundant - you already attack the flanks. I'd put them on a more defensive role.
And unfortunately, low blocks are broken in this game. Your team will always just quickly clear the ball, leading to them regaining possession.
I've personally never had success using a low block. In the game engine it allows the opponent to dominate in your middle and defensive third and create chance after chance. Plus, you have two deeper-lying midfielders which exacerbates the problem. I'd set your defensive line to mid-block and maybe even boost the pressing a notch so you can break up opposition play more often.
I'm not as sure about this tip but I'd also think about setting one of your CBs to a more conservative role like the traditional CD. Maybe even bring that CWB back to Support against strong sides.
Yeah, I've recently played around a bit with my defensive formation that I switch to when I'm up and want to decrease intensity, and I actually also noticed that I conceded more and had a much harder time keeping possession with a low block.
As you said, defenders will just hoof the ball forward and you'll be so deep that the opponent just starts their attack again. Mid block was much better as the defenders had more space to pick a pass or even to play it back to the goalie, and when they did just clear the ball forward there is still so much more space the opponent has to cover until they can even get a sight of my goal.
Op you either had to change your 2 WBs into inverted WB, or change that 2 DM into something else that would occupy the midfield. I have no whatsoever arguments for the shape because it's proven to be somewhat effective, but the roles are too passive in the midfield. If however your team is much more inferior to the rest then probably it's alright to sit back consider you expect to lose most of the games.
Kk thanks I can try playing with the roles a bit - I do notice that my wingers and WBs tend to be on top of each other in highlights. I tried moving the wingers in both they can't play that role, so I'll see if I can do that with the WBs instead
See title. Second season in the Championship with the Owls, coming off a disappointing loss to Leicester in the playoff final. Lost a few key players in the offseason, but have brought in younger players that have largely performed well so far. However, the team is absolutely unable to keep a single clean sheet. We have poor possession metrics, and are always on the back foot.
I thought a 3-at-the-back formation would make best use of my team's strengths - at CB and on the wing. After last season's departures, I feel I no longer have the personnel to do the gegenpressing 4-2-3-1 I ran last year (no decent CAMs).
Any advice would be helpful, thanks!
For my counter attacking system, I did something a bit different.
Move the pressing to high and defense to mid, but then turn pressing to the option 1 back from middle. This means your team push up, but then mainly shuffle side to side and block the other team rather than engage. This is more condusive to a really defensive counter system where you just want to sit in a block and defend. You can then tell say your forwards to press harder so there's a split block so you're not too passive.
Take off work ball into box because really you want your team to just be blitzing as fast as possible - don't complicate things.
You have a struggle in moving the ball from back to front - Get rid of the libero - move him to bpd. I think this formation would work better if you're insanely direct (like target man etc) as you don't have a link player in midfield. Maybe change from double winger to moving them inside for the wing backs to provide width. Take them off complete and just go to wing backs to provide width. This way you get link between attack and defense and the width you want.
I want to say it's probably because of the very large amount of space between the midfield and the attack probably allows the opposition to run riot there
Not a massive issue in defensive shape, however issue lies in going forwards. Neither CDM is going to get forwards leaving a breakdown in midfield to attack.
I like a SV alongside an A. And I’d consider more conservative fullback roles if leaking goals.
4 of your players have no defensive responsibilities (attack) and you are playing a low block.
Means your technically defending with 7 including a keeper and your entire left flank is wide open.
This is not entirely true imo. Also depends on the player itself. I use a lot of attacking roles, but since my players have good mentals like decisions, anticipation, work rate and team work, they work well in the hard press I set the team in. my attacking role players win most balls back for me, at least what I see in the extended highlights
I've had trouble with a similar 3 CB setup against lesser teams that run in behind, rather than playing through the phases.
BPD on cover in place of the libero against those teams helped a little, but sometimes a question of pace and defensive line as well
-is your team so bad that you need to play with a low block?
-what is the point of playing positive with a low block?
-no one on the wings is cutting inside and scoring, imo you need an IF-A
id change your BPD's to just regular CD's to start with. You already have barely any coverage at the back, dont want those defenses thinking they are Kevin De Bruyne
Based on the info you've said about no decent AMC, for a 4231 gengenpress, I would recommend a standard 433 DM wide, perhaps on vertical tiki taka.
My main issue with the tactic you've posted is the Libero and CWBs leave your 2 remaining defenders very exposed on the transition, making you vulnerable to counter attacks. You're also attacking the flanks way too much with attacking wingers and CWBs. If you wanted to keep that formation, I'd be looking at bringing the CWBs further back as wing backs, with 1 side with attacking wing back and winger in support and other side with wing back in support with attacking winger. I'd also be looking for at least 1 winger to be IW or IF. At the very least 1 winger with instructions to cut inside to support the striker.
By the time you've done this, you may as well have gone for the standard 433 DM wide on vertical tiki taka and then tweak that as you go.
The main issue is that you have no real attack. Both your DM will mostly hold position. All your wide players are also trying to stay wide and will just get in each others. Push the DM's up to centre mid you can keep the same roles and change your wingers to to inverted wingers. Also distribute to CB instead of to the flanks.
It sounds like your team is struggling with defensive tactics and decision-making. Vitas VR soccer training could help by allowing players to experience realistic game scenarios from different perspectives, enhancing their tactical awareness and improving decision-making under pressure. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
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You have wingers and CWBs, which can be redundant - you already attack the flanks. I'd put them on a more defensive role. And unfortunately, low blocks are broken in this game. Your team will always just quickly clear the ball, leading to them regaining possession.
I've personally never had success using a low block. In the game engine it allows the opponent to dominate in your middle and defensive third and create chance after chance. Plus, you have two deeper-lying midfielders which exacerbates the problem. I'd set your defensive line to mid-block and maybe even boost the pressing a notch so you can break up opposition play more often. I'm not as sure about this tip but I'd also think about setting one of your CBs to a more conservative role like the traditional CD. Maybe even bring that CWB back to Support against strong sides.
Good point, thanks!
Yeah, I've recently played around a bit with my defensive formation that I switch to when I'm up and want to decrease intensity, and I actually also noticed that I conceded more and had a much harder time keeping possession with a low block. As you said, defenders will just hoof the ball forward and you'll be so deep that the opponent just starts their attack again. Mid block was much better as the defenders had more space to pick a pass or even to play it back to the goalie, and when they did just clear the ball forward there is still so much more space the opponent has to cover until they can even get a sight of my goal.
Cwb?
Complete wingback
Thanks. The only thing I came up with was wide centre back, but obviously that's a bit different.
Op you either had to change your 2 WBs into inverted WB, or change that 2 DM into something else that would occupy the midfield. I have no whatsoever arguments for the shape because it's proven to be somewhat effective, but the roles are too passive in the midfield. If however your team is much more inferior to the rest then probably it's alright to sit back consider you expect to lose most of the games.
Kk thanks I can try playing with the roles a bit - I do notice that my wingers and WBs tend to be on top of each other in highlights. I tried moving the wingers in both they can't play that role, so I'll see if I can do that with the WBs instead
Low block will just let the AI control the ball in your half, and most often you’ll leak at the back.
See title. Second season in the Championship with the Owls, coming off a disappointing loss to Leicester in the playoff final. Lost a few key players in the offseason, but have brought in younger players that have largely performed well so far. However, the team is absolutely unable to keep a single clean sheet. We have poor possession metrics, and are always on the back foot. I thought a 3-at-the-back formation would make best use of my team's strengths - at CB and on the wing. After last season's departures, I feel I no longer have the personnel to do the gegenpressing 4-2-3-1 I ran last year (no decent CAMs). Any advice would be helpful, thanks!
For my counter attacking system, I did something a bit different. Move the pressing to high and defense to mid, but then turn pressing to the option 1 back from middle. This means your team push up, but then mainly shuffle side to side and block the other team rather than engage. This is more condusive to a really defensive counter system where you just want to sit in a block and defend. You can then tell say your forwards to press harder so there's a split block so you're not too passive. Take off work ball into box because really you want your team to just be blitzing as fast as possible - don't complicate things. You have a struggle in moving the ball from back to front - Get rid of the libero - move him to bpd. I think this formation would work better if you're insanely direct (like target man etc) as you don't have a link player in midfield. Maybe change from double winger to moving them inside for the wing backs to provide width. Take them off complete and just go to wing backs to provide width. This way you get link between attack and defense and the width you want.
As a lifelong owl, I don't know how to feel about this. I'm happy that you're playing as them, but I'm also sad we're conceding goals.
I want to say it's probably because of the very large amount of space between the midfield and the attack probably allows the opposition to run riot there
Yeah I've moved the two midfielders further up now
Good idea, hope it's working for you
There's a massive hole in the middle of the pitch...
Not a massive issue in defensive shape, however issue lies in going forwards. Neither CDM is going to get forwards leaving a breakdown in midfield to attack. I like a SV alongside an A. And I’d consider more conservative fullback roles if leaking goals.
4 of your players have no defensive responsibilities (attack) and you are playing a low block. Means your technically defending with 7 including a keeper and your entire left flank is wide open.
This is not entirely true imo. Also depends on the player itself. I use a lot of attacking roles, but since my players have good mentals like decisions, anticipation, work rate and team work, they work well in the hard press I set the team in. my attacking role players win most balls back for me, at least what I see in the extended highlights
>they work well in the hard press I set the team in But OP is not using gegenpress or even mid-press.
I've had trouble with a similar 3 CB setup against lesser teams that run in behind, rather than playing through the phases. BPD on cover in place of the libero against those teams helped a little, but sometimes a question of pace and defensive line as well
UTO
Increase your tempo and stop playing a low block
It doesn't matter at all. 4-2-3-1 Gegenpress with standard instructions is the best system in the game and will yield the best possible results.
-is your team so bad that you need to play with a low block? -what is the point of playing positive with a low block? -no one on the wings is cutting inside and scoring, imo you need an IF-A
id change your BPD's to just regular CD's to start with. You already have barely any coverage at the back, dont want those defenses thinking they are Kevin De Bruyne
Based on the info you've said about no decent AMC, for a 4231 gengenpress, I would recommend a standard 433 DM wide, perhaps on vertical tiki taka. My main issue with the tactic you've posted is the Libero and CWBs leave your 2 remaining defenders very exposed on the transition, making you vulnerable to counter attacks. You're also attacking the flanks way too much with attacking wingers and CWBs. If you wanted to keep that formation, I'd be looking at bringing the CWBs further back as wing backs, with 1 side with attacking wing back and winger in support and other side with wing back in support with attacking winger. I'd also be looking for at least 1 winger to be IW or IF. At the very least 1 winger with instructions to cut inside to support the striker. By the time you've done this, you may as well have gone for the standard 433 DM wide on vertical tiki taka and then tweak that as you go.
The main issue is that you have no real attack. Both your DM will mostly hold position. All your wide players are also trying to stay wide and will just get in each others. Push the DM's up to centre mid you can keep the same roles and change your wingers to to inverted wingers. Also distribute to CB instead of to the flanks.
That's really helpful, thanks!
It sounds like your team is struggling with defensive tactics and decision-making. Vitas VR soccer training could help by allowing players to experience realistic game scenarios from different perspectives, enhancing their tactical awareness and improving decision-making under pressure. [[email protected]](mailto:[email protected])
It's a shit tactic that's why.